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Rain and Other Stories
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
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Summary
W. Somerset Maugham is one of the best-loved short story writers of the last 100 years. In this collection of his finest short work Maugham takes the listener to the sun-drenched Pacific islands where the Governor mercilessly abuses the inhabitants; to the story "Rain", in which the Reverend and the prostitute play out one of the most famous finales ever written; to the studies of chauvinistic Colonels, and snide conversations in Edwardian drawing rooms, as well as at the gates of heaven. As an introduction to one of the greatest writers in the English language Stephen Crossley's reading is the perfect place to start.
- 1.Intro
- 2. "The Pacific"
- 3. "Mackintosh"
- 4. "Rain"
- 5. "Envoi"
- 6."The Casuarina Tree"
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- 8."Sanatorium"
- 9. "Jane"
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What listeners say about Rain and Other Stories
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Performance
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- Sue
- 26-04-16
Wonderful
An absolutely delightful set of short stories, each with its own unexpected ending. I loved this audiobook! Steven Crossley reads them brilliantly and brings the characters to life. The only negative is that each story is followed too quickly by the next so there is no time to savour the ending. Apart from this - a wonderful listening experience.
7 people found this helpful
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- Markell
- 21-09-17
Tremendous stories
'Well written' seems a rather weak compliment when applied to Somerset Maugham's shimmering prose. Beautifully evoked portrayals of the frailties of human life in the early 20th century tropics. Includes some of the greatest short stories of all time. Beautifully read too. I immediately downloaded another audio collection of his and am transfixed again. Wonderful!
4 people found this helpful
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- Mary Carnegie
- 28-08-20
Better than remembered
Unfashionable for many years WSM turns out to have been a better writer than I thought, not having read anything of his stuff for decades - there always seemed to have been so much else available. Not a great writer, but a good one...These short stories are lively and witty and well performed by the narrator (who can even do a Scots accent that doesn’t make me cringe!) Perfect for troubled times.
2 people found this helpful
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- aYo Binitie
- 20-08-19
Somerset Maugham at his storytelling best
If you like great English literature, this is a book to listen to. Loved it in my teens, love it now
2 people found this helpful
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- Jane Showering
- 19-02-18
What craftsmanship, what a writer!
Loved every story, great narration too
As one other mentioned, a bit annoying how one book proceeds another without any pause at all. I just can’t imagine why it was produced like that, but all the same, a fabulous book
2 people found this helpful
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- Paul D
- 12-09-17
Wonderful tales of another age
Maugham is a wonderful story tellers and excellent at creating interesting and original characters. Here is fine selection of them .
2 people found this helpful
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- Leonora
- 05-09-16
A wonderful collection of short stories
What did you like most about Rain and Other Stories?
Stories which explore the human character in all its guises.
Excellently narrated, which brought the stories alive.
Which character – as performed by Steven Crossley – was your favourite?
Jane Fowler.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes - very much so.
Any additional comments?
A wonderful read / listen - I highly recommend.
2 people found this helpful
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- Jo
- 13-02-21
Just loved the stories
The narrator is very good and the stories are intriguing and interesting right up to end will keep this one and listen to again and again no doubt
1 person found this helpful
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- Magdalena Miecznicka
- 26-01-21
Lovely short stories
...From a time when short stories could still be more or less straightforward, beginning, middle, end, characters and a pun. Entertaining and full of insights about the British society of the time.
1 person found this helpful
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- Helen SJ
- 29-03-21
My first time reading Somerset Maugham...
and a thumbs up from me!
I really enjoyed these short stories. A true tale in karma.
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- W Perry Hall
- 30-01-14
Rain Down on Me
One of the most potent short stories in the Western Lit canon: Rain, by Somerset Maugham.
A Pacific island quarantined during the tropical wet season. Two couples in the same building as a prostitute. One husband and wife are missionaries. One a mild-mannered doctor and his wife. The doctor is the narrator of this story best illustrating the powerful struggle between a man's religious beliefs and nature (man's natural desires). If you have not read it, I won't spoil for you one of the most dramatic last few pages in literature. Prayers and faith can fortify the spirit, but they cannot stop the rain.
Mr. Crossley does an excellent job narrating Rain and Other Stories, by, in my humble opinion, one of the most underrated writers in Western Literature, W. Somerset Maugham.
10 people found this helpful